The Trump administration continued its bold efforts to eliminate government waste, canceling approximately 700 research projects funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) on April 25. This move follows the resignation of NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, who had been appointed during Trump’s first term, and the earlier termination of another 400 grants labeled “wasteful DEI” spending by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Many of the canceled projects fit the pattern exposed in a 2024 report by Sen. Ted Cruz, who criticized NSF for funding “politicized” programs. Among the terminated grants were initiatives aimed at creating after-school programs for “rural, Latinx youth” and promoting online STEM learning among girls, along with others focused on diversity at HBCUs and rural scientific conference access. Even grants like developing tools to detect AI-generated deepfakes were scrapped, as the administration shifted NSF’s mission back to research benefitting the broader public rather than narrow identity groups.
The administration made its priorities clear: NSF would cease awards “with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics,” specifically those tied to “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and misinformation/disinformation.” In total, over 400 grants were eliminated in this wave alone.
In a strong move to streamline the agency, Trump’s team announced plans for a 55% budget cut and the elimination of half the National Science Foundation staff, signaling a return to fiscal responsibility. Internal memos warned staff of “significant workforce reductions,” and encouraged participation in a new deferred resignation program.
While entrenched bureaucrats expressed concern about America’s global scientific standing—one anonymous employee worried the cuts could affect competition with China—the broader conservative view is that unchecked government spending does more harm than good.
DOGE celebrated the results on X, praising the NSF reforms as “great work.” Led by Elon Musk, the efficiency project claims to have already saved American taxpayers $160 billion and aims to reach an astonishing $1 trillion in savings.
